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Bohls: Strong deserves support as he makes cuts to Longhorns’ roster

1. Charlie Strong’s honeymoon just got longer — or should, at least, with how he’s handling off-the-field issues. By his own estimation, the Texas football coach did not have a national championship-caliber team this spring. That was before he took an ax to his roster and cleaved away any who hadn’t bought in to his program, dismissing four more players and suspending two. He stripped his team of much of its depth at wide receiver, running back and defensive back. With the suspension of Kendall Sanders, Texas returns only Jaxon Shipley, Marcus Johnson and the enigmatic Daje Johnson, who has had off-the-field issues, and could lose 100 receptions. Strong had better hope tailback Malcolm Brown remains strong because Johnathan Gray is coming off Achilles surgery. But his philosophy is now entrenched, and Longhorn fans not known for their patience should support that. Strong’s approach includes random searches of players’ dorm rooms for illicit drugs and alcohol. Also, considering Strong said running back Joe Bergeron had “done an unbelievable job,” only to be kicked off the team just days later, speaks of the coach’s low tolerance for any slippage. The country club, indeed, is closed. Said one former Texas letterman, “We have kids that aren’t committed to the program, and Mack’s staff turned a blind eye to the problems. Charlie needed to clean house.” The disciplinary measures are a poor reflection on Mack Brown’s dealing with character issues because it’s fair to say these players didn’t just become problems in the past six months.

2. Baylor’s Antwan Goodley weighed in on the spring comments of Texas linebacker Steve Edmond, who called the Bears “trash” and suddenly felt remorseful. Yeah, five days later, when he finally apologized. “That’s his opinion,” said Goodley, the league’s second-rated returning wide receiver. “He doesn’t matter to us. Of course, it motivates us. Texas hasn’t been the same Texas that they were in the past. We’re going to go in there and win.” He added that wasn’t a guarantee. Bears linebacker Bryce Hager said his team was caught off guard by Edmond’s remarks, saying, “I didn’t understand where that came from. I think it was the heat of the moment. I rather think that can motivate us.”

3. Strong didn’t rule out true freshman Jerrod Heard usurping sophomore Tyrone Swoopes and emerging as the backup quarterback. “He’ll have a chance to go compete,” Strong said. “We haven’t had a chance to look at him.” Strong viewed tapes of all 13 Texas games last season and remains impressed with David Ash. “Ash is 100 percent,” Strong insisted. “He played unbelievably when he was healthy.” That’s not entirely true. He has had about six outstanding games, all of them two years ago against Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Iowa State and Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl. He’s run the gamut from spectacular to good to average to awful. There’s been no consistency.

4. Strong isn’t the type to get upset about media accounts that might portray him poorly, including one by ESPN in which anonymous high school coaches at a West Texas clinic told an ESPN writer they were not impressed with Strong. “It didn’t bother me,” he told the Statesman. … Nor is he worried about the perception that A&M’s Kevin Sumlin is kicking his and others’ butts in in-state recruiting. “We’re trying to make sure the young men in our program are a good fit for us. Signing day is February. This is July.” … Strong isn’t worried that school President Bill Powers is retiring in 11 months. “That doesn’t bother me,” he said.

5. More than a little disappointed in Andre Johnson’s long holdout before finally reporting to Texans camp. He’s due to make $10 million this year but wanted his $10.5 million salary for 2015 guaranteed. How much is enough? Johnson has had to deal with interminable losing — eight losing seasons out of 11 and only two playoff seasons — and has been a stand-up guy. Not everyone can be Kevin Durant or Tim Duncan.

6. TCU coach Gary Patterson raved about Shaun Nixon, the versatile Lake Travis running back who originally committed to Texas A&M. “Shaun’s had a great summer,” Patterson said. “He can move around and do a lot of different things. He’ll have the opportunity to play as a freshman. He may start as a slot receiver or at tailback.”

7. Paul Rhoads said he never received an apology from the Big 12 office after Iowa State lost to Texas last year, even though replays seemed to show that Gray lost a late fumble at the goal line and the Cyclones should have been awarded the ball. “No, they wanted me to apologize,” Rhoads said.

8. Asked to name a Texas player who might emerge as a breakout performer, senior cornerback Quandre Diggs said, “Bryson Echols had a great spring at cornerback. His light has really come on.” Defensive end Cedric Reed said freshman defensive tackle Poona Ford “looks like a baby Malcom Brown to me. I think he’ll be good.” And center Dom Espinosa singled out tackle Kent Perkins, who has benched 35 reps of 225 pounds. “And he can do it all day,” Espinosa said. “He’s a monster. “

9. Hail Caesar. Liked “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” a lot, especially the intelligent treatment of the topic. Kinda wish they would have played up the humans-in-cages aspect for perspective. Gave it 7½ ducks.